Immortal's Game

Chapter: 3

I Told You it was a Trap

Sorry it took so long to get this out but I haven't had as much time as I usually do lately.

Zelgadis entered into the castle and slowly walked towards the main chamber. 'I'm surprised nothing has attacked me yet. Last time Lina sent a group of mutants after me but none now,' Zel thought somewhat surprised as he rounded another corner. He continued to walk down the corridor as a voice came out of nowhere and said, "You're walking into a trap! Your obsession with Inverse is making you act like a rookie!"

"It takes more than a simple trap to check me," Zelgadis replied, "Now quit whining I can listen for what's ahead if you keep it up."

"I'm so going to love saying, 'Told ya so,' when you walk into this," replied the voice before going silent.

Zelgadis sighed and continued down the hall as his nose caught a hold of a scent he knew very well. 'She is still wearing the same fragrance from the first time I fought her,' thought the hunter as he remembered the scent well. He turned another corner to be met with two large double doors. 'She's right behind the door,' Zelgadis thought before saying, "It ends tonight Inverse," as he opened the door.

Zel looked into the darkened room as his sensitive eyes adjusted to the low light. There she was sitting on a throne at the end of the room. She was smiling at him and was waiting on him to make the first move. Zelgadis walked forward while drawing his sword. "I have you now Inverse," Zel said as he shifted into fighting stance.

Lina smiled as she uncrossed her legs and stood up. She walked down the same steps leading to the throne before speaking, "Good job Zelgadis...you are quite determined aren't you?"

Zel narrowed his eyes and moved forward slightly while taunting, "Come on Inverse. Surely you are ready to have another chance to get rid of this thorn in your side."

Lina stepped forward a bit and said seductively, "Why fight Zelgadis? We are the same in our capabilities and powers. Why not join forces...we could rule this dried up little planet."

"No, we are an abomination we shouldn't exist in this world. And, it is only after I finish hunting the rest of our kind that I can finally rest," Zelgadis spoke as he rushed forward; tired of the banter.

As he was about to swing the carpet let out from under him and he began to fall. Out of reflex he willed his cape to stretch out and grab the top of the pit. He planted his feet on the pit wall and began to climb upwards towards his target. Just as he was about to the top Lina leaned over and said, "So close," then her voice and body changed to that of Xellos, "and yet so far," as he tossed the cape down leaving Zelgadis to fall.

Zelgadis moaned as he rolled over feeling his injuries with frightening clarity. He had landed on his left arm and knew it was broke due to the sharp pain when he tried to move it. He also felt a similar pain in the lower part of his chest. "Must've broken a rib or two as well," Zel commented as he used his right arm to crawl towards a wall.

"God, this sucks," mumbled the voice as the palm of his left hand turned into a face. "Why'd you choose to fall on the left side."

"Because I favor my right when using my sword. I won't be at one hundred percent but at least I'd still be able to fight," answered Zel as he pulled himself up the wall.

"Well I told you it was a trap, but no listening to the parasite is a stupid idea," berated the hand as Zel walked forward a step.

Zel winced as the pain of his bruised and somewhat broken body radiated with every step. "Shut up will you. I'll have this argument with you after I've healed," Zel grunted as he made slowly made his way down the underground hall he'd been dropped into.

Zel inched along the right side of the hallway wincing every once in a while. "You know your vampire capabilities might aid you better if you would feed once every blue moon," came the voice from his hand again.

"I will never. I would risk killing my victim, or even worse turn them into one of my kind," Zelgadis protested as he continued down the hall.

After what felt like an eternity, Zelgadis reached a door. He walked up to it and opened the door by leaning against it. He lost his footing and fell into the room and grunting in pain. Before he could do anything he heard a voice ask, "Are you okay?"

Matilda had been sitting in the old dungeon room for hours and still hadn't heard or felt anything. 'Damn, either he's absurdly late or Xellos flubbed the act,' thought the girl as she sat and waited. About five minutes later she heard slow, careful footfalls making their way down the hall. "Oh, goodie," Matilda said to rehearse her childlike innocents.

After another five the footsteps where halfway to her door. 'Man, he must've gotten really banged up by that drop than I thought. Oh well, if that's so it will make it easier to handle him,' she continue to think as she was ready to go on with her performance. After a few moments the door cracked and then the dampeal himself fell on the floor with a grunt of pain. Matilda plastered a concerned look on her face and moved next to the fallen man while asking, "Are you okay?"

The man rolled over slowly and looked at her for a moment before asking, "Who are you?"

Matilda looked into the dampeal's eyes and had to concentrate so as not to gawk too much. 'I always knew he was beautiful but with him like this I'm having trouble fighting off the urge to bite,' Matilda thought. She then replied, "I'm Matilda...the countess took me from my home as her next meal," while looking downcast.

Zel let out a grunt and said, "Help me to where I can lean on a wall."

Matilda nodded and helped the dampeal over to the wall. She then helped to lower him to lean against the wall. "Is there anything I can do," Matilda asked while kneeling next to him.

Zelgadis looked at the girl to finally notice that the sound of her voice and her actual age where a far difference. Zel had thought she was no more then ten to twelve years old. But, from the look of her body she was more towards sixteen. She was a little underdeveloped but other than that a normal sixteen year old girl. Zel eyes, mostly out of instinct, moved to her bare neck and he could feel his canines start to grow. 'No, I won't,' Zel fought with his instincts to not bite the young girl. "I'll be alright...what about you?"

Matilda smiled and said, "I'm okay...especially since you're here to protect me," as she leaned next to him.

Zelgadis felt her body move against him and his instincts got more fuel for it's part of the battle. He clenched his teeth while keeping his lips clamped to not show the fangs that were growing. He grunted and said lowly, "Matilda..."

Matilda looked up at him and smiled. 'Almost there...just let go Zelgadis and bite me,' Matilda thought as she moved so she sat in his lap. "I'm so scared. That mean lady might come to get me at anytime. Please, let me stay," Matilda begged as she placed her nose in the crook of his neck.

Zelgadis gasped as he began to breathe heavily. He couldn't hold his true nature back for much longer and he knew it. His right arm came up and encircled the girl's body in a clumsy embrace. His eyes began to glow blue as his fangs reached their full length. "Matilda...run," Zel said weakly well trying to control himself.

'Oh no you don't. I've got you so now to finish it,' Matilda thought as she threw her arms around his neck. "But, what if she gets me," Matilda asked while slowly kissing at his neck.

'I can't hold out any longer,' Zel thought as his embrace tightened around the girl's body. He lowered his lips to the crook of Matilda's neck and ran them on her young skin. He breathed in her scent as he kissed her neck slightly; still trying to fight off his true nature. He then opened his mouth to run his fangs along her skin. A small trail of blood came from the wound and with the sight he lost all control, "This might hurt," he said in a voice that was and wasn't his before biting into her neck.

Matilda gasped as she felt the fangs penetrate her flesh for the second time in her life. The first time she had felt it when her sire had bitten her. It had felt like a great pain in her neck, but his bite was different. She felt excited and lustful for more. She had never felt this way ever since she became a vampire. She had never felt this way when she was only concerned about gaining power. Now this feeling was destroying her concentration. Her illusion dropped as her own fangs began to grow and her pupils dilated. She gasped again as Zelgadis jerked at her neck, as if trying to open the wound more and said, almost breathless, "See all that pent up need to feed wasn't good for you."

With the sound of that voice Zelgadis opened his eyes to see that he was latched onto Lina Inverse. Like being brought out of a dream his mind was hit with clarity and he released her. "How dare you," he growled at being deceived.

She tightened her hold on him. He was still hurt and she had the advantage which she wouldn't give up. She kept him against the wall and put her lips near his ear. She then lowly whispered, "Am I that bad Zelgadis? Your father was a vampire. Why do you turn against us?"

Zelgadis moved forward with a surprising burst of energy. He knocked Lina off her balance and onto the floor. He quickly moved and placed his good arm over her neck; thus pinning her to the floor. He glared down at the countess and growled, "I will never be like your kind. And, now I'll finish what I've started," as he began to glow with blue energy.

"Not so fast," Lina said with a evil smile.

Before Zelgadis could deliver the attack Lina turned into a cloud of mist and moved away. She quickly regained her form right behind the hunter and kicked his left arm. Zelgadis grunted as pain shot all throughout is body. He slumped over and breathed in heavily, 'I'm in no condition to fight...she'll probably finish me off now.' But, to his surprise instead of her continuing her onslaught, she lifted his broken body up and embraced him from behind. He felt her breath against his neck as she whispered in his ear, "Don't fight me Zelgadis. Join me and we will be the most powerful force on this planet."

"No," Zel grunted while trying to get free.

Lina held tight to him and nuzzled at his neck before whispering, "If you don't want the planet then I can give you something better."

"I won't," Zel continued to refuse her words.

Lina smiled and said, "You can have me," before biting his ear.

Zelgadis threw his head back as his eyes began to glow again. His vampire side wasn't completely gone. And, the main problem was, he was starting to enjoy her seduction. "No," he shouted finally breaking free and leaning against a wall facing Lina.

Lina frowned and said, "Be that way Greywords...but my offer is still open," as she disappeared.

Zel cradled his left arm and slid down the wall. Once hit the ground he shut his eyes while thinking, 'Just you wait...Lina."

Outside the castle the sun began to rise. As it came over the hills the gates opened up and a black carriage came racing out. Inside the carriage, in her coffin, Lina pondered over her progress. 'He's a tough one but even he can't last forever. One way or another you will be mine Zelgadis.' She closed her eyes as she began her days sleep and then whispered, "Mine in more ways than one."

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

Feedback is requested, please send all comments to findelhe@hotmail.com